The amplitude of a pendulum's motion is influenced by several factors, including:
Initial displacement: The pendulum's amplitude is primarily determined by the initial displacement or angle at which it is released. When the pendulum is pulled or displaced from its equilibrium position and then released, the magnitude of this initial displacement determines the amplitude of subsequent oscillations. A larger initial displacement will result in a larger amplitude.
Initial velocity: The initial velocity with which the pendulum is released also affects its amplitude. The greater the initial velocity, the larger the amplitude will be. This relationship is most noticeable in situations where the pendulum is released from a position other than the vertical, resulting in a combination of swinging and translational motion.
Pendulum length: The length of the pendulum impacts its period (the time taken for one complete oscillation) but not the amplitude. The amplitude remains unaffected by the pendulum's length as long as there are no external forces or damping factors present.
It is important to note that in an ideal scenario without any energy loss due to friction or air resistance, the pendulum will maintain the same amplitude throughout its motion. However, in real-world situations, factors such as damping, friction, and air resistance may gradually reduce the amplitude over time.